Indo–Trinidadians And Tobagonians

Indo–Trinidadians and Tobagonians or Trinidadian and Tobagonian Indians are people from Trinidad and Tobago whose ancestors are of Indian origin that came from India and the wider subcontinent beginning in 1845 during the period of colonization and indentureship.

Indo–Trinidadians and Tobagonians are a subgroup of Indo-Caribbean people, which is a subgroup of the wider Indian diaspora. Generally, most Indo-Trinidadians can trace their ancestry back to North India especially the Bhojpur and Awadh regions of the Hindi Belt, which lies in the Gangetic plains that is located between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers and faces the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Kaimur, and the Vindhyas. However, some Indo-Trinidadians may trace their ancestry to other parts of South Asia, notably South India. Indians first arrived in Trinidad and Tobago as indentured laborers from India through the Indian indenture system from 1845 till 1917, and some Indians and other South Asians, along with their families, later came as entrepreneurs, businesspeople, religious leaders, doctors, engineers, and other professional occupations beginning in the mid-20th century and continuing till present day. Some Indo-Caribbean people from many other Caribbean nations, such as Guyana, Grenada, Martinique, and Saint Croix, also immigrated to Trinidad and Tobago.

Indo–Trinidadians and Tobagonians are the largest ethnic group in Trinidad and Tobago, identified by the official census, about 35.43% of the population in 2011.

History

Of 94,135 Indian immigrants to Trinidad, between 1874 and 1917, 50.7 percent were from the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, 24.4 percent hailed from Oudh State, 13.5 percent were from Bihar Province and lesser numbers from various other parts of the British Raj, such as the Madras Presidency, Bengal Presidency, Central Provinces, Chota Nagpur Division, Bombay Presidency, and Punjab Province. Out of 134,118 indentured labourers from India, 5,000 who left from the Port of Madras distinguished themselves as "Madrasi" and the immigrants who left from the Port of Calcutta distinguished themselves as "Kalakatiyas".

Many were people who were escaping poverty in India and seeking employment offered by the British for jobs either as indentured labourers, workers or educated servicemen, primarily, between 1845 and 1917.

The demand for Indian indentured labourers increased dramatically after the abolition of slavery in 1834. They were sent, sometimes in large numbers, to plantation colonies producing high-value crops such as sugar in Africa and the Caribbean.

Religion

According to the most recent census (2011) conducted in Trinidad and Tobago, Hinduism is the religion followed by a plurality of Indo-Trinidadians. The breakdown of religious affiliation for Indo-Trinidadians is as follows -
# Hinduism – 49.54%
# Islam – 11.64%
#Pentecostalism/Evangelicalism/Full Gospel – 9.67%
# Roman Catholicism – 6.48%
# Not Stated – 6.30%
# Other – 5.81%
# Presbyterianism/Congregationalism – 5.68%
# None – 1.04%
# Spiritual Baptist – 0.96%
# Seventh-day Adventist Church – 0.91%
# Jehovah's Witnesses – 0.73%
# Anglicanism – 0.56%
# Trinidad Orisha – 0.31%
# Other Baptists – 0.21%
# Sikhism – 0.06%
# Methodism – 0.05%
# Rastafari – 0.02%
# Moravian Church – 0.007%

Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago are represented by several sects, organizations and entities the largest of which is the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, a Sanātanī Hindu organization with Ramanandi, Smarta, Shaiva, and Shaktist roots. Other Hindu organizations and sects include SWAHA International, Arya Samaj, Chinmaya Mission, Kabir panth, ISKCON, the Sathya Sai Baba movement, Seunariani (Sieunarini/Siewnaraini/Shiv Narayani), Aughar (Aghor/Owghur), Kali Mai (Madrasi), Murugan (Kaumaram), Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (Radha Madhav), Ganapathi Sachchidananda movement, Divine Life Society, Brahma Kumaris, however there are notable Shia and Ahmadiyya minorities. The major Muslim organisation representing Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago is the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association (ASJA). Other Islamic organizations include the Trinidad Muslim League, Darul Uloom, Ummah T&T, the Muslim Federation, and the Tackveeyatul Islamic Association.

The Sikh community in Trinidad and Tobago, numbering at about 300, consists of the descendants of the few Punjabis who came during the indentureship period, Punjabi Sikhs who came in the twentieth and twenty-first century, and Sindhi Hindus and Punjabi Hindus who also came in the twentieth and twenty-first century and who are, in addition to being Hindu, Nanakpanthis, followers of the Sikh Guru Nanak. The Sikhs have a gurdwara (temple) in Tunapuna dating back to 1929.

Politics

Most Indo-Trinidadians have traditionally given their political support to parties opposed to the People's National Movement (PNM) which has historically been perceived as a Christian African- Creole dominated party. Voting patterns amongst Indo-Trinidadians have also been influenced by religion where, for periods of time Muslim Indo-Trinidadians and non-Presbyterian Christian Indo-Trinidadians supported the PNM because the prevailing parties for Indo-Trinidadians – the PDP, DLP, and ULF were felt to be Hindu and Presbyterian Indian dominated parties. With the advent of the NAR and then the UNC this polarization by religion has been on the decline however its existence is still felt with the UNC fielding a Muslim candidate in every election for the San Juan/Barataria seat since 1995 owing to the presence of a large Indo-Trinidadian Muslim population within this constituency.

Notable Indo-Trinidadian politicians include:
*Basdeo Panday – first prime minister of Indo-Trinidadian descent and the first Hindu to hold the office
* Kamla Persad-Bissesar – first female prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago
* Noor Mohamed Hassanali – first Muslim head of state in the Western Hemisphere and the first Muslim and Indo-Trinidadian to hold the office of President of Trinidad and Tobago (1987–1997)
*Christine Kangaloo – first female president of Trinidad and Tobago of Indian descent
* Rudranath Capildeo – Leader of the opposition at the time of independence
*Bhadase Sagan Maraj – Leader of the Parliamentary wing (1958–1960)
*Ashford Sinanan – Opposition leader (1951–1956); West Indies Federation Opposition Leader (1958–1961)
* Rudranath Capildeo – party leader (1960–1969)
*Stephen Carpoondeo Maharaj – acting opposition leader (1963–1965)
*Simbhoonath Capildeo – opposition leader (1965)
*Vernon Jamadar – opposition leader (1965–1972); party leader (1969–1972)
*Adrian Cola Rienzi – mayor of San Fernando and Member of the Legislative Council for Victoria (1937–1944)
*Raffique Shah – opposition leader (1977–1978)
*Winston Dookeran – UNC party leader (2005–2006); COP party leader (2006–2011)
* George F. Fitzpatrick – first Indian member of the Legislative Council, nominated in 1912
* Sarran Teelucksingh – Member of the Legislative Council for Caroni (1925–1946); first Indian elected to the Legislative Council, a predecessor of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobgao
* Isaac Hyatali – first chief justice of Trinidad and Tobago of Indo-Trinidadian descent
* Satnarine Sharma – first Hindu chief justice of Trinidad and Tobago

Culture

Indo–Trinidadian and Tobagonians have retained their distinctive heritage and culture, while also functioning in a multicultural society. The South Asian languages of their ancestors have largely been lost, although a number of these words have entered the Trinidadian vernacular. Indian movies, music, and cuisine have entered the mainstream culture of Trinidad and Tobago. Chutney and chutney soca music rivals calypso and soca music during the Carnival season.

Holidays and festivals

Diwali, Eid ul-Fitr, and Indian Arrival Day are national holidays, and Phagwah/Holi, Maha Shivratri, Hanuman Jayanti, Ram Naumi, Sita Naumi, Navratri, Vijayadashami, Krishna Janmashtami, Radhastami, Saraswati Jayanti, Raksha Bandhan, Vivaha Panchami, Guru Purnima, Ganesh Chaturthi, Kartik Snan, Ratha Saptami, Karagam Puja, Kalbhairo Jayanti, Mesha Sankranti, Makar Sankranti, Tulsi Vivah, Gita Jayanti, Datta Jayanti, Ratha Yatra, Gurpurab, Buddha Purnima, Ramadan, Hosay (Ashura), Eid al-Adha, Mawlid, Shab-e-barat, Chaand Raat, Islamic New Year, and other Hindu and Muslim holidays are widely celebrated.

Cuisine

Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian cuisine is mostly derived from the Bhojpuri and Awadhi cuisines of North India. It has considerable South Indian, especially Tamil and Telugu, influence on preparation and ingredients in the tropical environment of Trinidad and Tobago that was similar to the tropical environment of South India, where a significant minority of Indians came from. There is also influence from other ethnic cuisines on the island such as Creole, Chinese, West African, Indigenous, French, British, North American, Portuguese, Arab, and Latin American cuisines. It is unlike the mainstream Indian-South Asia cuisines, which is mostly based on Punjabi, Rajasthani, Mughlai, Gujarati, Bengali, Udupi, and Tamil cuisines. This "mainstream" Indian cuisine was brought to the country by more recent immigrants and is termed as East Indian cuisine in Trinidad and Tobago and is contrasted from the local Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian or local-Indian cuisine.

Breakfast

A traditional Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian breakfast consists of ''sada roti'', a type of unleavened bread made with flour, baking powder and water. The dough is rolled out and cooked on flat, cast-iron skillet, called a '' tawa''. The cooked dough is cut into quarters and served with a variety of fried vegetables, tarkaris or chokhas. Sometimes ''fried bake'' is eaten instead and is made using with flour, baking powder and yeast and is then fried in oil. Usually breakfast is vegetarian, however salt fish is sometimes added. Some breakfast dishes include ''baigan chokha'' (roasted and mashed eggplant), ''damadol chokha'' (roasted and mashed tomatoes), ''pepper chokha'' (roasted and mashed peppers), ''aloo chokha'' (boiled, roasted, and mashed potatoes), ''karaili chokha'' (roasted and mashed bittermelon), ''murtani'' or ''upar ghar'' (combination of roasted and mashed eggplant, tomato, pepper, and okra), fried or curried ''bodi'' (long beans), fried or curried aloo (potatoes), fried or curried ochro/bhindhi (okra), fried or curried ''seim'' ( hyacinth beans), fried or curried ''karaili'' (bittermelon), pumpkin or ''kohra'' ''tarkari'' (pumpkin simmered with spices and seasoning), fried or curried ''saijan'' ( drumstick), fried or curried ''lauki'' (bottle gourd), ''bhaji'' (made with young dasheen bush (taro) leaves, spinach leaves, saijan (drumstick) leaves, or chaurai (spiny amaranth) leaves), and/or fried plantains.

Street foods

Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian foods like doubles, aloo pie, pholourie, saheena, baiganee, bara, and kachori are popular street foods throughout the country and are served with various chutneys, achars, and pepper sauce. Doubles is made with two ''bara''s (flat fried dough) and curried ''channa'' (chickpeas) and is served with toppings, like pepper sauce, kuchela, and tamarind, mango, pommecythere, cucumber and bandhaniya chutneys. It is one of the most popular breakfast foods eaten on the islands, however, it is eaten at any time throughout the day. Another Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian street food that is popular is roti, which consists of roti (usually paratha or dhalpuri) that wraps curried vegetables, curried channa (chickpeas) and aloo (potatoes), curried chicken, curried shrimp, curried goat, curried duck, curried conchs, or any other spicy fillings. The town of Debe in southern Trinidad is a popular destination for these street foods.

Festival foods

Traditional Diwali and other Hindu festivals and prayers foods include appetizers such as pholourie, saheena, baiganee, bara, and kachori. Main dishes include roti (most commonly dalpuri and paratha) and karhi and rice served with condiments such as achar or anchar, kuchela, mother-in-law (pickled vegetables), pepper sauce, and dishes such as curried mango, ''bhaji'' ( dasheen bush or any spinach), pumpkin or kohra tarkari (pumpkin), curry channa and aloo (chickpeas and potatoes), fried or curried ''baigan'' (eggplant), fried or curried ''bodi'' (long beans), fried or curried ''seim'' ( hyacinth beans), curry eddoes (arui), curry chataigne or katahar (breadnut